Immersive Inclusion: Using the Power of AR/VR for Good in DEI

RightsCon 2021 | June 9, 2021, 4-5pm ET | w/ @AccessNowOrg

Speakers:
• Ellysse Dick, Policy Analyst, ITIF (moderator)
• Lydia X.Z. Brown, Policy Counsel, Privacy and Data Project, Center for Democracy and Technology
• Courtney Cogburn, Associate Professor, Columbia University
• Long Doan, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland

Augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies offer possibilities to address issues of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and in communities. True, immersive experiences can bolster diversity and inclusion initiatives, such as bias training—but there are many other innovative ways they can be used to support marginalized communities. At the same time, AR/VR technologies come with unique risks to user privacy and autonomy that can cause significant harm to their most vulnerable users. This session brought together a panel of experts on racial justice, disability rights, and social policy to explore this dynamic. Panelists addressed questions such as: How does AR/VR intersect with broader efforts toward equity, inclusion, and accessibility? How can these technologies benefit marginalized communities? What risks do AR/VR present to digital rights as a whole, and to the rights of vulnerable users more specifically? And what actions can advocates, industry leaders, and policymakers take to mitigate these risks?